Machine for applying a coating to the interior of pans



` INVENToR.

/fv//zy Archer BY l 1 2 t 6 9 .n s 9 A 4 l 2 h s 5 l. M. ARCHER MACHINE FOR APPLYING A COATING TO THE INTERIOR 0F PANS wrm Mmh 7, 195o Filed July 2, 1945 March 7, 1950 l. M. ARCHER MACHINE Fox` APPLYING A coA'rING To 'mE INTERIOR oF PANs 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 2, 1945 M. ARCHER 2,499,621 MACHINE FOR APPLYING A comme r11o THE INTERIOR oF PANs 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 7, 1950 Filed July 2, 1945 INVENToR. #my M. ifdef', BY M41/ 4W( Arrofiws Ys March 7 1950 l. M. ARCHER 2,499,621

ummm Foa APPLYING A comme T0 THE INTERIOR OF' FANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 2, 1945 A INVENToR.

/fzf//y Mirc/fer Home xs Mardi 7, \,1950 M. ARCHER 2,499,621

uAcHINE Fox APPLYING A comme To THE INTERIoR oF mms Filed July 2. 1945 4 5 sheets-sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

/fw/)gg M Arche/1 A TTORNfY Patented Mar. 7, 1950 MACHINE FOR APPLYING A COATING TO THE INTERIOR OF PANS Irving M. Archer, Dallas, Tex., assignor to Campbell Taggert Research Corporation, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application July 2, 1945, Serial N0. 602,822

4 claims. 1

This invention relates to a machine for applying a coating to the interior of pans; for example, those used in baking so as to prevent sticking of the contents, and has for its principal object to provide for sanitary and economical application of the coating material.

Other objects of the inventionk are to provide a machine that is automatic in operation; to provide a machine having capacity corresponding to modern pan filling methods; to provide for spray coating of pans in inverted position and for turning the pans to an upright position ready for lling; to provide a machine with means for effecting substantially uniform distribution of the coating material in the exact amount desired; to provide a machine constructed to conserve coating material and prevent escape thereof; to provide for automatic removal of any foreign matter from the pan prior to coating; and to provide a machine for coating pans that is comparatively simple and positive in operation.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a pan coating machine that handles the pans in rapid succession without battering or damaging the pans.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a pan coating machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the machine particularly illustrating cleaning of the pans of foreign material and the spray application of the coating.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view through the spray nozzle with which the coating material is applied, the section being taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the spray mechanism on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross section through the machine particularly illustrating the mechanism for restoring the pans to upright position ready for delivery to a filling station.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the delivery end of the machine and which is a continuation of the section shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a part of the pan turning mechanism particularly illustrating the detent for continuing application of power necessary to complete turning of the pans.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross section showing yieldable flaps for. closing space between the pans being coated and the coating collecting pan.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of a modied form of heating and spraying mechanism.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a pan coating machine con-b structed in accordance with the present invention and which includes a frame 2 that may be formed of pipe and pipe fittings, as illustrated, or similar structural members to provide the necessary support for the pan and necessary operating mechanism of the machine. In the illustrated instance, the frame 2 includes laterally spaced upper rails 3 and 4 connected by end rails 5 and B through fittings 'I which are mounted on the upper ends of legs 8. The legs 8 are also connected by longitudinal lower members 9 and I0 and transverse members II, I2, and I3 (Fig. 1). Carried on the upper rails 3 and 4 of the frame adjacent the end rail 5 is a horizontally disposed plate or table top I4 for starting pans onto a conveyer I5 which carries the pans across a coating station I6 onto a discharge conveyer I'I that is associated with a pan turning mechanism generally indicated at I8.

In the illustrated instance the conveyer I5 includes an endless web or belt I9 operating over rollers 20 and 2| that are suitably journalled at the ends in bearings carried by the longitudinal rails 3 and 4. The upper run of the belt operates over a plate 22 also carried by the side rails and in position to support the -upper run of the belt in plane with the plate I4. The plate I4 is provided with a transverse slot-like opening 23 adjacent the receiving end of the conveyer I5 and through which jets of air are discharged into the pans as they are moved thereacross as later described. The jets of air are provided by a blower 24 that is suitably mounted on brackets 25 that are carried by the transverse rail II and a secondary transverse rail 26. The blower 24 is actuated by a motor 21 connected therewith and energized under control of a switch mechanism indicated by the switch box 28 that is mounted on one of the adjacent legs 8 of the frame 2. The discharge connection 28 oi the blower is connected with the end of a pipe 30 that is suspended below the slot-like opening 23 and has a series of discharge nozzles 3| through which the air is discharged into the pans for removing any foreign matter such as crumbs or the like that may be in the pans.

The pan coating mechanism includes a tank 34 having side and end walls 35-36 and 31-38 connected by a bottom 39. The top of tne tank is open but when in position is closed by a transverse plate 40 extending transversely of the frame 2 and suitably supported at the ends from the side rails 3 and 4 at a suiiicient distance belowI the upper run of the coneyer belt to accommodate a collecting pan 4I across which the pan: are projected as later described. The pan 4 has side and end walls 42--43 and 44-45 connected by a. bottom 46 supported directly on the 3 transverse plate 4l. The top of the pan is open and of asize to cover the largest size panto be used in the coating machine. The pan has connection with the tank 84 such as an opening 41 for draining any excess coating material back into the tank for re-use. Supported by the pan 4| and depending into the tank is a spraying device 4l, best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, whereby a measured amount of coating material is discharged intoV each baking pan. The spraying device includes a vertically arranged cylinder 49 having an axial bore 50 opening from the lower end thereof and threaded as at to mount a valve unit 52 whereby a measured amount of spray material is caused to be substantially instantaneously discharged through the spray nozzle so that each pan is given a single shot of the coating material under suillcient force to `eilect substantially uniform distribution of the coating material over the inner surface of the pans.

The valve unit includes a housing 53 of a shape to be received in the bore 5l and having threads 54 for engaging the threads 5| to provide a leaktight joint therebetween. The housing 53 has an axial bore 55 terminating at the upper end in an outlet opening 55 of smaller diameter to provide an internal shoulder 51 for seating one end of a valve spring 58. The opening 56 is encircled by `a valve seat 58 for a valve 60 having a stem 6| projecting into the bore 55. The lower end of the valve stem is threaded to accommodate nuts 62 for supporting a spring seat 63 seating the opposite end of the spring 58 so that the spring normally retains the Valve 50 in closed position until the pressure of the spray liquid on the spring side of the valve reaches a predetermined pressure. whereupon the spring yields to allow sudden opening of the valve for discharge of spray material into a port 64 leading to the spray nozzle 55. 'I'he discharge port 54 extends through a boss 8i on the cylinder 49 to engage in a recess 51 of the spray nozzle to retain the spray nozzle in.axial alignment with the port 64. The spray nozzle also has a laterally extending annular flange 58 corresponding in diameter to the cylinder 49 to provide a shoulder 69 to seat a clamping plate 10 that seats upon the bottom of the collecting pan. A suitable gasket 1| is inserted between the cylinder and the nozzle for assuring a liquid-tight seal therebetween under the pressure to which the spray liquid is discharged through the spray nozzle.

'I'he spray nozzle has a channel 13 registering with the port 64 and which diverges into lateral and upwardly extending branches 14 and 15 that are formed in the nozzle body and which terminate at the ends in ports 16 and 11 arranged to discharge jets of the spray material opposite jets of the spray into impinging contact with each other so as to eifect fanning thereof as indicated at 18 and effect substantial spread to cover the length and width of a pan moved into coating position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The impinging arrangement of the jets also provides for finer atomization of. the coating material to insure the thinness of coating desired and thereby conserve the coating material and prevent excessive deposits on the interior of the pans. To insure leak-tight joints between the nozzle and the cylinder 49, the lower end of the cylinder has a lateral ange 19 corresponding to the clamping plate and the plate and flange are provided with registering openings 80 and 8| to pass drawbolts 82 which when tightened draw 4 the nozzle into pressure-tight contact with the gaskets 1|,

Measured amounts of coating material are caused to be discharged through the valve by a pump mechanism 83 which includes a bracket 84 having a head portion 8l extending through an opening 89 in the plate 40 adjacent one end of the tank 84. 'Ihe head portion 85 has a depending cylinder 81 reciprocably mounting a piston-like plunger 88 to draw in a charge of coating material 89 from the quantity contained in the tank. through a tube 90 that depends within the tank and carries a strainer 9| on the inlet end thereof. The upper end of the tube is threaded in the head portion and connects with a check valve chamber 92 which in turn isconnected with the piston chamber through a port 93. A ball type check valve 94 is mounted .1 the check valve chamber to seat in closing relation with the discharge end of the tube under action of aV spring 95. A measured quantity of coating material is discharged through a port 96 which is connected by a tube 91 with a channel 98 leading to the valve chamber 55.

In order that the pump mechanism is operated in timed relation with positioning of a pan over the spray nozzle, the machine is provided with a timing mechanism actuated by movement of the pans and which includes a wheel 99 having radially extending ngers |00 spaced apart suiiiciently to permit entrance of the bottom portion of the pan therebetween in the manner of the teeth of a rack and gear. The wheel 99 is supported in position overthe path of the pans on a shaft |0| carried in a bracket |02 that is mounted on a frame |02 carried above the plate 40 adjacent one side of the machine as shown in Fig. 3. Also carried on the shaft preferably at the outer side of the bracket |02 is a cam wheel |04 having high lobe portions |05 spaced apart in accordance with the spacing of the ngers |00 for actuating a lever |05 of a valve |01, the valve |01 also being located on the frame |03 and is supplied with air under pressure through a flexible connection |08 and which upon each actuation of the lever |04 discharges air through a exible connection |09 leading to an actuator H0. The actuator ||0 is illustrated as including a. cylinder containing a piston (not shown) which actuates a rod ||2 that is connected by a pin I3 with the lower end of the piston 88. The piston is actuated in the opposite direction upon release of air pressure in the valve by means of a coil spring ||5 having one end engaging against the cylinder and the opposite end against a collar H6 on the rod ||2.

With some types of coating material it is desirable to heat the tank and maintain the coating material at a constant temperature. This ls effected by providing the bottom of the tank with an electric heater ||1 supplied with current by conductors ||9 and ||9. Interposed in the conductor ||8 is a thermostatically operated switch |20 having the thermostat element 2| thereof located within the coating material carried within the tank. The thermostat may be set to actuate the switch at any predetermined temperature by means of a knob |22 that is located exteriorly of the tank.

In order to provide a ilxed path for movement of the pans and to center the pans over the spray nozzle, one end of the pans is guided by a rail |23 which extends parallel with the rail 3 and the opposite side is guided by a rail |24, the rail |24 being movable to and from the rail |23 according to the length of nozzle unit supported thereby may -be'adjusted' relative to the path of the pans, the collecting pan .is slidably positioned along its supporting plate by a threaded shaft |3| having xed journals in theside rail 4 and which has threaded engagement with a nut |32.nxed tothe adjacent end of the collecting pan as shown in Fig. 3. The shaft is actuated by a hand wheel |33 fixed to the journalled end ofthe shaft. 1

The delivery conveyer includes a spaced pair of belts |34 and |35 operating over ."'pairs of' sprockets |36 and |31 fixed to shafts |36 and |39 extending transversely `of the machine and mounted in bearing brackets carried by the side rails 3 and 4 similar to the brackets yfor the conveyer previously described.l The conveyers are interconnected by a chain |40` operating over sprockets (not shown) on the adjacent shafts of the respective conveyers, the power for moving the conveyers being applied to the shaft |39 through a chain |4| operating over av sprocket;vv |42 on the shaft and a sprocket |43 on the power delivery shaft |44 of a speed reducer |45 (Fig. 1),

the speed reducer being connected with a motor |46 so that when the motor is energized upon` closing a switch (not shown) in the switch box 28, the conveyers are continuously operated.

to vthe pan coating station where grease, such as4 Since the pans are moved across thev spray nozzle in inverted position, means must be provided for turning the pans so that they-are in an upright position ready to receive the contents to be placed thereinx This is effected by providing a rock shaft |41 journalled adjacent the longitudinal Vrail 3 at the delivery end vof the machine 'and which is actuated by an air-cylinder |48 through a connecting rod |49 having pivotal connection with an arm |50 on the rock shaft. The air cylinder |48 is pivotally journalled as at 5| on a bracket |52 depending from the longitudinal rail 4. `Fixed tothe ends of therock shaft 41 are depending arms |53 terminating in arcuate-shaped arms and |56 which are interconnected by a cross bar |51 adapted to engage under the pans so as to raise the outer side of the pans and -tip the pans across,a supporting rail |59 onto a discharge belt |60 which may be. the loading belt of a pany filling machine (not shown).

In order to eiect actuation of the air cylinder |48 when a pan or group of pans is in position to be turned, the machine is provided withan air control valve |60 similar to the control valvepreviously described and which is supplied .with air under pressure through a pipe |6| and which 'is discharged when the valve is open through a v of the pans being carried by the conveyer chains (Figs. 6 and 7) so that when the endxnostpan` engages the lever, the lever is moved to open the valve |60. In order to retain the lever in open track |65 that moves into position to engage a lug |66 on vthe lever arm to hold the lever arm in retracted or valve opening position until the pans have moved into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6 and ready to tip onto the offtake conveyer. In this position the track |65 has passedthe lug |66 onthe lever arm |63 so that the lever arm is free to swing forwardly. When the arcuate arms of the rock shaft swing downwardly thecam segment moves on the retractive side of *Y the lug. It is thus obvious that as long as the valve operating lever is retained in retracted position by the cam, the air cylinder is effective in making a full stroke of the piston to complete turning of a group of pans later described. The mechanism isvrestored to original position by gravity and ready to turn the next group of pans when they move in position to engage the actuating lever of the valve.

In using the apparatus constructed and assembled as described, pans are placed in inverted position'on the table I4 and pushed over the air discharge nozzles onto the 'conveyer belt |5. As the pans pass the air discharge nozzles 3|, jets of air are blown therein to dislodge any foreign matter such as crumbs'and the like from a previlous baking'. The pans are carried by the belt l5 melted lard, is sprayed hito the interior thereof as shown in Fig. 2. As the pans approach the coating station they engage one of the arms |00 to rotate the wheel 99 to cause the cam |04 connectedstherewith to actuate the lever |06 of the airvalve |01 which connects, the air supply with the air cylinder Il'l. Upon admission of the air,

the piston within the cylinder moves against ac tion of the spring ||5 to cause the plunger 88 to expel a charge of the coating material through the tube 91 to the spray nozzle. As the pressure builds up in the spray nozzle, the spring 58 yields and the valve opens to'discharge the spray liquid under high pressure and velocity through the oriiices 16 and 11 of the nozzle 65. The jets escape from the orifices and impinge against each other to effect a finely atomized spray capable of substantially reaching all of the interior surfaces of the pan that is then in position.

When the air' valve is closed incidental to re-v` lease of the lever |06 by advancement of the pans,

the air in the cylinder vents to atmosphere and the spring ||5 returns the plunger 88 to retracted position, -producing a sunlcient suction to draw another charge of coating material froml |51 to move upwardly through and tip the pan t lor group of lpans lying thereover into the position shown by the dotted lines, Fig. 6. The pans riding upon the rail |59, overbalance and move I -into an upright position-onto the conveyer |60 rposition until the rocker arm has made sumcient stroke to effect turning of the group of pans, the

rocker -arm carriesacam segment. |764 havingwa 76 |21 along thecross rails |26 and |20. :Wherithis which carries the pans in vertical position 'to the filling station.

l|30 :and sliding the supporting sleeves |25 and adjustment made it is desirable to adjust the diocesi pan 4| to center the spray nozzle relative to the A lthe grease collecting pan, the grease collect'ng pan may substantially conform to the width of the pans being greased (see Fig. 9) and hinged ilaps |51 and |58 are provided on the incoming and outgoing sides of the pan to close the open spaces. 'Ifhe flaps are hinged as at |59 and |10 to 'the transverse walls of the grease collecting pan and are yieldingly retained in position by springs |1| and |1|'. The ilaps are yieldable with movement of the pans transversely across the spray nozzle, but when a pan is centered over the nozzle the naps spring into position to close theppenings as shown in Fig. 9.

In the form oi' the invention shown in Fig. 10, the heater is separate from the storage tank. The grease is stored in a tank |12 and heated only sumciently to maintain fluidity thereof. The grease ilows by gravity from the storage tank |12 through a pipe |13 to a separate heating cyllnder |14 that is heated by an electrical'heating element |15. The heating cylinder |14 is provided with a thermostat element |16 immersed in the grease and adjusted to a predetermined temperature by the manipulation of a knob |11. The'cylinder has a drain valve |18 in the bottom thereof and an air vent |19 in the top controlled by a valve |89. The grease at the desired temperature is drawn from the cylinder through va pipe |8| connected with a cylinder |82A of a pump |83. The pump cylinder has a piston chamber |84 normally closed at one end by a series of valves |85 arranged in tandem. A rod-like' piston i |35 is reciprocated in the piston chamber and carries a larger piston |96' that is reciprocable in an air cylinder |81 connected with the` cylinder |32 as shown. Air is admitted into the cylinder from a valve similar to the pan actuated valve |01 of the first described formoi' the invention through. a pipe |88. The piston is returned to vnormal position vby a coil spring |89 bearing against the end of the air cylinder and having its opposite end seated on a spring seat |90carried by a piston rod extension I9 'I'he discharge position, a spray nozzle for discharging coating material into the pans.4 means for conveying the pans along said supporting means and across the spray nozzle in successive order, a pump for delivering measured amounts of coating material under pressure to the nozzle, an air operated actuator' for said pump, a rotor supported above the pans, arms on the rotor engageable by the pans to advance said rotor, a cam connected with the rotor, a valve for controlling air supply to the actuator, and an arm on the valve and in position to be engaged by the cam for eilecting opening of ythe valve to supply the actuator when a vpan registers with the spray nozzle.

end of the cylinder '|92 is connected by a duct |92 leading to the spray nozzle. |93 corresponding to the spray nozzle mechanism previously de-.

scribed. The inlet to the pipe |13 may be pro-A vided with a substantially cylindrical screen |94.

In order to prevent an air loclr" above the air piston, the vair cylinder is provided with a vent |95. When air is introduced through the pipe |88 that is connected with the inlet port of the air cylinder, the air piston |86' actuates the rodlike piston |85 to force the liquid in the cylinder past the valves and discharge it. through the spray nozzle mechanism |93 substantially in the manner of the pump previously described.

When the air is suspended lthe pistons are re' turned to normal position by the spring |89, air

being admitted to the air cylinders through the vent |95. In this form of the invention, the grease is heated tohigh temperature only as it is used, thereby maintaining the grease in storage in better condition.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters .Patent is:

1.- An apparatus of the character described including means -for supporting pans in inverted Number Name 1,295,762 K'oeng et a1 Feb. 25, 1919 1,363,013 Puhl Dec. 21, 1 920 1,721,643 Debus Aug. 13, 1929' 1,850,637 Hatch Mar. 22, 1932 1,887,138 Peier Nov. 8,1932 1,917,767 Larson July 11, 1933 2 267,491 Burkhart Dec. 23, 1941 2,344,461 Herman Mar. 14, 1944 2,350,708 Rosenlund June 6, 1944 2,356,120

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a spray nozzle for discharging the coating material into the interior of pans to be coated, means for conveying the pans in inverted position across the nozzle in successive order, a pump for delivering measured amounts of coating material to the nozzle, an actuator for said pump, a wheel, radial arms on said wheel, means for supporting the wheel with the arms in the path of the pans to effect turning of the wheel as the pans are moved over said nozzle, a source of compressed air connected with the actuator, a valve controlling said air supply, a cam driven by said wheel, and a lever on the valve engageable with the cam. for operating the valve to eiIect actuation of the actuator.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a support, means for conveying invertedpans along the support, a spray nozzle on the support and arranged to discharge a liquid coating material into the pans, a pump for discharging a quantity of the liquid coating material under pressure, duct means connecting the pump with the spray nozzle for conveying the liquid coating material under pressure of the pump, and a spring loaded valve in said duct means actuated by the pressure of the liquid coating for maintaining pressure on said coating material.

4. Inran apparatus of the character described, a support, means for conveying inverted pans along the support, a spray nozzle on the support -and arrangedy to discharge a liquid coating ma- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Y Date Slightman Aug. 15, 1944 

